July 12, 2009
June 29, 2009
June 11, 2009
Let the summer festivals begin.
With temps in the 50’s right now, it’s hard to imagine that summer is right around the corner. However, if proof is what you need, just check out this extensive list of neighborhood festivals and street/block parties taking place in the next couple months in Chicago. Nearly all of these include music acts and are either free or ask a donation of no more than $5. Here is a small sample of musicians and groups I wouldn’t mind checking out under the warm sun:
Chicago Blues Festival: Pinetop Perkins, Bettye LaVette, Honeyboy Edwards, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
Ribfest Chicago: Office, Jukebox the Ghost, Margot and the Nuclear So & So’s, Thao with the Get Down Stay Down, Annuals
Taste of Randolph Street: Dr. Dog, Urge Overkill, The Hold Steady
Wicker Park Festival: Elvis Perkins In Dearland, Junior Boys
Millennium Park Music Series: Dirty Projectors, Sea and Cake, The Feelies, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Pit Er Pat
And let’s not forgot the Pitchfork Music Festival (Built to Spill, Yo La Tengo, Tortoise, Flaming Lips, Grizzly Bear, The Walkmen, M83, Beirut, etc.) and Lollapalooza (which hopefully I get to work for a third year in a row)!
John Vanderslice at last week’s Metronome Music Festival in Logan Square.
And, Future Rock at the same festival.
May 6, 2009
April 10, 2009
WEVL Spring Pledge Drive `09
It’s that time of year again to pull out your pocket book and show your support for the greatest radio station around, WEVL 89.9FM. Pledge securely online here.
Spring Pledge Drive goes from April 10 – 18.
April 6, 2009
WEVL Baseball Special – Tuesday 8am – 10am
Typically on this blog, I don’t promote radio shows that I am doing on WEVL (89.9FM and wevl.org). But, I put many hours (as Apryl will concur) into this baseball special, so I figured I should get the word out as much as possible. A few of you might recall that I recorded a baseball show for the end of last year’s baseball season, but I feel rather confident that this one is far superior. You can give it a listen tomorrow (Tuesday) from 8am – 10am!
March 5, 2009
Cohen Revisited
After a bit of speculation, it is now official, Leonard Cohen has added a second date at the Chicago Theatre. So this time, we bought our tickets during the fan presale. And, we were successful! Our tickets are in the front section of the first balcony row, dead center. Basically, the 50 yard line, so we’ll have a great view.
Even though I was looking forward to visiting Detroit, it was going to be pricey with gas and hotel bills. Unlike the unsavory ticket scalper, we plan to sale our Detroit ticket at face value. Take that!
March 2, 2009
I’m going!
I’ve got my tickets to see Leonard Cohen… in Detroit! Why am I not seeing him at the Chicago Theatre? Let’s just say that Ticketmaster is pure evil. And, if for some reason you didn’t know this, check this out. Oh well, I’ve always wanted to see the Motor City. And Cohen, I’ve wanted to see him for years!
December 31, 2008
End of the Year – lists
So, we’re back home. And it was a great holiday break (short sleeves, really?) But as always, even though it seemed like we were always visiting, we still didn’t manage to see everyone. Hopefully, we will see all those we missed on our next trip back South. Of course, I took photos, which I will load on Flickr today or tomorrow. Until then, I thought it would be appropriate to end the year with a few End of the Year lists. So, here we go:
Top 10 Favorite Songs of 2008
10. Dent May – Meet Me In The Garden
9. TV on the Radio – Family Tree
8. Silver Jews – Strange Victory Strange Defeat
7. The Avett Brothers – Murder in the City
6. Bon Iver – Re:Stacks
5. Arthur Russell – Love Is Overtaking Me
4. Breathe Owl Breathe – Playing Dead
3. Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal
2. Destroyer – Foam Hands
1. Vic Chesnutt – You Are Never Alone
Top 10 Concerts of 2008
10. (tie) Harlan T. Bobo – Schubas/Caleixco – Millennium Park
9. Dolly Parton – Chicago Theatre
8. Ornette Coleman – Chicago Jazz Festival
7. Radiohead – Lollapalooza
6. Jarvis Cocker – Pitchfork Music Festival
5. Magnetic Fields – Old Town School of Folk Music
4. Girl Talk – Lollapalooza
3. Animal Collective – Pitchfork Music Festival
2. Bill Callahan – Millennium Park
1. Andrew Bird – Millennium Park
Honorable Mention: Vanilla Ice – Cans
Top 5 Cities Visited (work related) in 2008
5. New York
4.New Orleans
3. Charleston
2. Boston
1. Reno/Lake Tahoe
Top 5 Places Visited (non work related) in 2008
5. Mount Horeb
4. Memphis
3. Nashville
2. Greers Ferry
1. McGregor/Prairie du Chien
Top 5 Celebrities met in 2008
5. Bill Rancic
4. Mark Wahlberg
3. Garrison Keillor
2. Cookie Monster
1. Svengoolie
Top 10 Tourist Stops of 2008 (in no particular order)
- Mustard Museum in Mount Horeb
- Sears Tower Skydeck
- Architecture Boat Tour, Chicago
- Hopper/Homer Exhibit at the Art Institute
- Fenelon Place Elevator Cable Car in Dubuque, IA
- College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, IN
- Cafe du Monde in New Orleans
- Mississippi River Museum in Dubuque, IA
- Cheers Bar in Boston
- Weird Chicago Tour
Top 5 Most Memorable Moments in 2008 (other than Obama)
5. Sox win the AL Central.
4. Apryl graduates from IIT.
3. Eva gets cancer. And is okay.
2. The Tigers play in the NCAA Finals.
1. McKenzie Hayden Madden is born.
Top 5 Favorite Personal Photos of 2008 (in no order)
Perhaps more lists to come later. Perhaps not. Either way, here is a selection of other photos from the past year. Goodbye 2008!
November 17, 2008
WEVL’s Fall Pledge Drive
We’ve made our pledge. Have you?
It’s time again for WEVL’s Fall Pledge Drive which continues through November 22. Please help Memphis’ favorite radio station reach its goal of $65,000 by making a pledge today. To make a pledge by phone call 901-528-1990. Or pledge online.